[qmr]

Have you ever been on a motorcycle?

Closest feeling you can get to flying and a helluva lot cheaper.

Bike costs are line noise, (cheap!) planes I fly are better part of $200 an hour.

I get what you're saying though. Barely been on bike since latest baby and wondering if I should just sell them for now.

As much as I miss riding and wife misses riding with me, if the worst were to happen, yikes.

[Waterluvian]

> Closest feeling you can get to flying

I’d say this is a strong case against getting one for anyone who has struggled with addiction. In my experience a part of the constant battle is a difficult relationship with sources of stimulation.

[phs318u]

I’ll second this. Back in the 90s when my addict brain was in full flight, I had a street bike for a year. There was not a single ride when I didn’t massively exceed the speed limit and ride recklessly. I loved it! Lucky to be alive. Lucky I had a partner who convinced me to sell it after our first child was born.

Having said all that and despite being in recovery for many years... I still lust after the feeling of completely unfettered freedom being on a bike on an open road. Before I bought my bike a friend had warned me that once you ride, you’ll never not want to ride. He was right.

[stevepotter]

Same. I got spooked after a car pulled out on the country highway I was doing 160 on. Then ran out of money and sold it. I just rode my Dads Harley, first ride in 20 years. Was nice but I’m good. I have a longboard and a little hill once in a while gives me the occasional adrenaline rush I crave.

[ProllyInfamous]

>first ride in 20 years. Was nice but I’m good

This, is wisdom.

Glad we both made it (so far).

[mothballed]

With a child it's easy to always justify spending the money on something else. I also miss the machine's simplicity and ease to work on.

While it probably sounds crazy, owning a tractor is almost as good. There are even more mechanical widgets to play with and it is dead simple and easy to work on like a motorcycle. I still miss the motorcycle but now I can actually do useful work while somewhat scratching the itch.

[ProllyInfamous]

>Have you ever been on a motorcycle?

Absolutely. Broken bones, and all.

----

>wondering if I should just sell them for now

>if the worst were to happen, yikes

Listen to yourself, Papa.

----

It's a young (dumb) man's game.

[estearum]

Motorcycles are ridiculously fun but yeah, if you have anything in your life worth preserving or sticking around for, it's statistically a pretty awful decision.

[ProllyInfamous]

>Motorcycles are ... statistically a pretty awful decision.

This has been my favorite sentence (so far) in this discussion – whatever one's opinion is on motorcycling. Capital 't' Truth.

----

Thirty years ago, my mother gave me some small amount of money to NOT ride a motorcycle on roadways until after she died. Being young and broke, I took the money. stopped riding.

After she died, I had aged just enough to realize that I didn't actually want to ride motorcycles on-road, anymore. Even after decades of wanting to...

Somehow mama-up-there knew I'd eventually grow up, and it only cost her a few hundred dollars [to not have to witness my motorcycle accident (while alive, nor ever from-above)].

[sam1r]

Thanks for sharing!

What are your thoughts on Roller Coasters? Hit a good theme park, ride maybe 6 with your eyes closed within a couple of hours.

I can't help but feel riding one (Roller Coaster) is much more optimal than $200/hr flying a plane, and much safer than a motorcycle, even if you rented vs purchase one.

[cj]

> ride maybe 6 with your eyes closed

That’s like telling a skydiver to go ride the Drop Tower (or whatever the ride is that drops you straight down).

Not only is the experience different, but you aren’t in control. You aren’t controlling what’s happening.

For me a big part of the enjoyment comes from being in control of the bike.

Personally I would get zero enjoyment riding as a passenger on a bike. The thrill comes from riding and maneuvering the bike, not just going fast.

[qmr]

> For me a big part of the enjoyment comes from being in control of the bike.

Yes. Chasing perfection every time.

How smoothly can you roll out of this corner. How perfect a line can you take. How smoothly can you shift up or rev match and shift down.

I don't think I've ever been a passenger. My young wife enjoyed riding with me before our youngest came.

[card_zero]

So an important invention that would save lives is a combined bumper cars + rollercoaster. Like the Witching Waves but faster.

[ProllyInfamous]

I haven't ridden in two decades, but I think a high-powered jetski is close to your description.

Either stand-up (small one-rider) or a 3-seater; each has its perks.

You can waterski behind a larger HP machine, and it's always nice to have a fellow beloved rider saddling-up alongside your antic't britches – whatever the hell that means, to you.

Or go be stupid and jumpwake on a crotchrocket standup jetski #LifeIsShort #CrippleLife #DontGetRunOver

[qmr]

Great America gold pass holder for many years.

It's a thrill for sure. Mostly on the smaller coasters thee days because of the kids.

[dylan604]

I've ridden a bike and I've also jumped out of an airplane. One of these is a lot closer to flying than the other, and it's not the one you suggested.

[globular-toast]

Yeah, I think this is the point. It's a "legal high" of sorts and a dangerous one. That flying feeling is addictive. Some are lucky enough to grow out of it, some aren't.

[ProllyInfamous]

Family owns acreage less than a mile from the recent Wimberley smallplane crash. As far as "statistical anomolies" are concered [+neighbors motorcycle accident] I'm not presently up for much risk-taking rn.

They could have just-as-easily landed on the barn I built, a decade ago – years of work.

Pilot's stupidity (flying in such known weather conditions, inexperienced) could have killed more than just he & his pickleball passengers.

----

The part where I start getting upset is when others' lives are put into risk (particularly when: no fault of their own, bystanders).

[spaqin]

> Closest feeling you can get to flying and a helluva lot cheaper.

Hah, that's funny for someone who got into FPV quadcopters recently and just passed his motorcycle license. I might have a problem.

[qmr]

I fly RC planes. I've done a bit of RC FPV with monitors never tried goggles or quads though.

[05]

EUC or FPV are closer, FPV is also safer..